The Union Government’s Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) allocates ₹1 lakh crore in Central Assistance to promote market-led, reform-driven urban transformation across India.
Out of this nationwide fund, Karnataka expects a baseline allocation of approximately ₹5,000 crore to ₹5,500 crore
Urban Challenge Fund (UCF)
Objective – It is a flagship scheme designed to transform India’s urban landscape by shifting from traditional grants to market-linked, reform-driven infrastructure financing.
Financing – Centrally Sponsored Scheme
Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)
Timeline: FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31
Three Strategic Verticals
Cities as Growth Hubs: High-impact transit-oriented development (TOD), economic corridors, and greenfield townships.
Creative Redevelopment: Retrofitting congested city cores, heritage sites, and regenerating brownfield areas.
Water and Sanitation: Modernizing solid waste management, legacy waste remediation, and clean water supply grids.
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0
Syllabus: GS3/Economy
In News
The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) 5.0.
Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS 5.0)
It will provide additional financial support to businesses facing liquidity pressures due to the ongoing West Asia situation.
The scheme aims to facilitate an additional credit flow of ₹2,55,000 crore to help MSMEs and the airline sector tide over financial instabilities.
UDGAM Portal
Syllabus: GS3/ Economy
Context
The Reserve Bank of India informed the Supreme Court of India that 30 banks have been integrated into the UDGAM portal.
UDGAM (Unclaimed Deposits – Gateway to Access Information) portal
Developed by – Reserve Bank of India
Objective – to provide a centralised search facility for unclaimed bank deposits.
It enables citizens to identify unclaimed balances across multiple participating banks through a single platform.
The portal does not settle claims; instead, it facilitates the process by directing users to the respective banks where the deposits are held.
Unclaimed Financial Assets
Unclaimed financial assets arise when money held with financial institutions is not claimed by the account holder or their legal heirs for a prolonged period.
If a bank deposit remains unclaimed for 10 years or more, it is transferred to the Depositor Education and Awareness Fund (DEA Fund).
Even after transfer to the DEA Fund, the ownership of the money remains with the depositor. There is no time limit for the depositor or their legal heirs to claim the funds.
PCV Vaccine: Rolled out under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). Protects against pneumonia, meningitis, and sepsis.
SAANS Campaign: Social Awareness and Action to Neutralise Pneumonia Successfully. Drives early identification in under-5 children.
Integrated Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhea – Integrated strategy targeting India’s two highest under-5 child killers: pneumonia and diarrhea.
Global Frameworks
Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Pneumonia and Diarrhoea (GAPPD) : WHO/UNICEF plan aiming for fewer than 3 child pneumonia deaths per 1,000 live births.
World Pneumonia Day: Observed every year on November 12.
The Union Cabinet has approved Rs.5659.22 crore for the Mission for Cotton Productivity (2026–27 to 2030–31)
Mission for Cotton Productivity
It is also referred as Kapas Kranti
Objective – it aims to address stagnant yields and improve fibre quality to make India a self-reliant and globally competitive textile hub.
Focuses on high-density planting (HDPS), developing 24 climate-resilient varieties, promoting Extra Long Staple (ELS) cotton, and branding (“Kasturi Cotton Bharat”).
Modernization: Includes upgrading 2,000 ginning units and integrating digital tools for better market access
Connect with the basics – Cotton Cultivation in India
It is often referred to as “White Gold,”
It is a vital commercial crop that serves as the backbone of India’s textile industry and sustains millions of livelihoods.
Geographic & Climatic Requirements-
It is a subtropical Kharif crop requiring 6–8 months to mature, cotton needs a warm, sunny climate (21°C–30°C) with at least 210 frost-free days.
Rainfall/Soil: Requires 50–100 cm of water; best grown on moisture-retaining Black Cotton Soil (Regur), though it thrives in alluvial/red soils with proper drainage to avoid waterlogging.
Production: India is the world’s top producer and holds the largest acreage.
Major producing states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh
Key Challenges: Pink Bollworm (PBW) resistance
India’s e-waste Management
Syllabus: GS3/Environment/Waste Management
Context
India generated 6.2 million tonnes of e-waste in FY24, projected to more than double to 14 million tonnes by 2030.
Connect with the basics- E-Waste
E-waste refers to discarded electrical and electronic devices such as computers, circuit boards, mobile phones, and appliances.
It contains hazardous materials like lead, mercury, cadmium, and brominated flame retardants.
Improper disposal leads to soil contamination, water pollution, and health hazards.
Impact of Improper E-Waste Management
Water Pollution: Toxic discharge from cyanide and sulphuric acid affects water bodies.
Air Pollution: Emissions from lead fumes and plastic burning are severe.
Soil Contamination: Hazardous substances leach into the soil, damaging agriculture and biodiversity.
Economic Loss: India is estimated to forfeit over ₹80,000 crore worth of critical metals each year, which could have been recovered and re-used in manufacturing.
Initiatives for E-Waste Management in India
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Producers, importers, and brand owners are made responsible for managing their product’s end-of-life waste.
An online EPR E-Waste portal has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) where entities such as producers, manufacturers, recyclers, and refurbishers of the e-waste are required to be registered.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has comprehensively revised the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016 and notified the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
India’s first e-waste clinic was inaugurated in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
It’s a facility for segregating, processing, and disposing of e-waste from both households and commercial units.
The Ministry of Mines launched a Pan-India E-Waste Recycling Drive as part of Special Campaign 5.0 (in 2025), aimed at promoting Swachhata in government offices and ensuring scientific disposal and resource recovery from electronic waste.
Basel Convention
The Basel Convention is a global treaty aimed at controlling the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal, ensuring that such wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner.
It was adopted in 1989 and entered into force in 1992.
India is a party to the Basel Convention.
Teesta River
Syllabus: GS1/Geography
In News
Bangladesh has renewed its request to move forward on the long-pending Teesta water-sharing agreement.
Teesta River
It is a tributary of the Brahmaputra
It originates from the Tso Lhamo Lake in north Sikkim.
It travels for about 150 km in Sikkim and 123 km in West Bengal, before entering Bangladesh.
It flows another 140 km in Bangladesh and joins the Bay of Bengal.
Agreement
India and Bangladesh had reached an in-principle agreement in 2011 to share the Teesta river waters, but it was never finalized due to coordination issues between the Centre and the West Bengal government .
Bangladesh has now expressed hope that the 2011 agreement can be reconsidered in the present political context.
The Unified Payments Interface has completed 10 years since its launch in April 2016.
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
Launched by – UPI was designed and launched by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) in 2016.
Objective – It is a system that powers multiple bank accounts into a single mobile application (of any participating bank), merging several banking features, seamless fund routing & merchant payments into one hood.
Countries with operational or planned interoperability include: Singapore (PayNow), UAE, France, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and others.
Additional Information – National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI)
Established in – It serves as an umbrella body for the operation of retail payments in India.
Established by – Reserve Bank of India along with the Indian Bank’s Association.
Established under – It was set up under the provisions of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Products of NPCI
RuPay
National Common Mobility Card
Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM)
Unified Payments Interface (UPI)
Bharat Bill Payment System
GalaxEye Launches Mission Drishti
Syllabus: GS3/ Science and Technology
Context
Indian space start-up GalaxEye has launched Mission Drishti, the world’s first OptoSAR satellite, aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket from California in the United States.
Mission Drishti
It is the world’s first OptoSAR satellite,
It was launched on May 3, 2026, by Indian space-tech startup GalaxEye (founded by IIT Madras alumni) on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
This 190 kg Earth Observation (EO) satellite integrates SAR and optical sensors for all-weather, high-resolution imagery.
Key Features
Technology:Combines Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) with Multi-spectral Optical sensors (OptoSAR) on a single platform.
Advantage: Unlike traditional satellites, it provides high-resolution imaging through clouds and at night.
Applications: Border surveillance, disaster management, agriculture, infrastructure monitoring, and defence.
Significance:India’s largest privately built satellite, boosting local private space capacity.
Mission Goal: Part of a planned constellation of 8-12 satellites by 2029
Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR)
Syllabus: GS3/ Defence
Context
India successfully carried out the maiden launch of a Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range (NASM-SR) from a Sea King helicopter off the Odisha coast in the Bay of Bengal.
Naval Anti-Ship Missile – Short Range
It is an indigenously developed, air-launched anti-ship missile designed for helicopter-based maritime strike operations.
It is India’s first indigenous helicopter-launched anti-ship missile.
It is developed to replace British-origin Sea Eagle missiles.
It aimed to provide the Indian Navy with a high-precision, indigenous strike capability against maritime targets, strengthening defence self-reliance.
The system has been developed by the Research Centre Imarat under the Defence Research and Development Organisation, in collaboration with other labs.
The State Finance Commission (SFC) in Karnataka has recommended a high-level inquiry into electricity billing and payments for gram panchayat installation
The State Finance Commission (SFC)
It is a constitutional body created under the 73rd and 74th Amendments to ensure the financial health of local governments.
Constitutional Basis
Article 243-I: Governor appoints an SFC every 5 years for Panchayats.
Article 243-Y: Applies the same rule to Municipalities.
Core Functions (Recommendations to Governor)
Tax Sharing: Dividing state tax revenues between the state and local bodies.
Tax Allocation: Deciding which taxes, tolls, and fees local bodies can collect.
Grants-in-Aid:Allocating funds to local bodies from the Consolidated Fund of the State.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands created another Guinness World Record with the formation of the tallest human stack underwater at Swaraj Dweep, formerly known as Havelock Island.
About
The feat comes a day after the Union Territory administration achieved a landmark by unfurling the world’s largest underwater national flag, measuring approximately 60 by 40 metres.
Both the Guinness World Records are expected to draw national and international attention and will boost the profile of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as a hub for scuba diving and eco-tourism.
Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Location: The islands are located 1,300 km southeast of the Indian mainland in the Bay of Bengal.
It extends from 6° 45′ N to 13° 41′ N and from 92° 12′ E to 93° 57′ E.
The Southernmost Island is Great Nicobar whose southernmost tip is only 150 km away from Sumatra, Indonesia.
The highest point is Saddle Peak in North Andaman (732 metre), Mount Thullier in Great Nicobar (642 metre).
Pandunus or Nicobar Breadfruit is a rare fruit found in the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
Barren Island of the Andaman & Nicobar Island group is the only confirmed active volcano not just in India but the whole of South Asia.
Indira Point in Great Nicobar is the Southern-most point of India.
Lipulekh Pass
Syllabus: GS1/Geography
In News
Nepal has objected to India’s plan to conduct the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh pass, which Nepal considers disputed territory.
Lipulekh Pass
It is a high-altitude Himalayan pass in Pithoragarh district, Uttarakhand (India).
It serves as a strategic tri-junction connecting India, China (Tibet), and Nepal.
It is accessed from India through Dharchula.
It is strategically and culturally important as a traditional route for Indian pilgrims on the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
It also has historical commercial value, as it became the first India–China border trade post when trade opened in 1992.
What is the Dispute
The tension between India and Nepal over the Lipulekh Pass is a complex boundary dispute rooted in the 1816 Treaty of Sugauli.
The Treaty was signed between the British East India Company and the Kingdom of Nepal and established the Kali River (Mahakali) as Nepal’s western border.
Nepal claims the river originates at Limpiyadhura, which would place the Lipulekh and Kalapani regions within its territory.
Fugitive Economic Offenders
Syllabus: GS2/ Governance
Context
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has declared 21 individuals as Fugitive Economic Offenders (FEOs).
Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO)
A Fugitive Economic Offender (FEO) is an individual against whom an Indian court has issued an arrest warrant for a specified economic offence involving ₹100 crore or more, and who has either left India to evade criminal prosecution or refuses to return from abroad to face the law.
This legal status was established under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018 (FEOA) to deter economic offenders from evading justice by staying outside the jurisdiction of Indian courts
Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018
Confiscation of Property: The Act empowers authorities to attach and confiscate properties of the offenderlocated both in India and abroad.
The law also covers benami properties and assets indirectly controlled by the offender.
Bar on Civil Claims: The Act disallows declared FEOs from initiating or defending any civil claims in Indian courts.
Special Court Mechanism: The Act provides for adjudication of cases through special courts established under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
Enforcement Directorate
Established in – On 1st May 1956, an ‘Enforcement Unit’ was formed. In the year 1957, this Unit was renamed as ‘Enforcement Directorate’.
Established under – It is a specialized financial investigation agency under the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance.
Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru
Context
“Bengaluru’s Soul”, a monumental 16-foot public art sculpture by world-renowned Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, has been officially unveiled at the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru.
Kempegowda International Airport
It is an international airport serving Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka
It is owned and operated by Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), a public–private consortium
It is named after Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore.
Kempegowda International Airport became Karnataka’s first fully solar powered airport, developed by CleanMax Solar
KIA’s Terminal 2 also secured second position as the World’s Best New Airport Terminal for terminals opened in 2023
Since opening in 2023, Terminal 2 has also received a UNESCO Prix Versailles World’s Most Beautiful Airport award along with a Special Prize for its interiors, LEED platinum certification, and more
The election of the next UN Secretary-General is underway.
Secretary-General as the UN
The Secretary-General is the UN’s Chief Administrative Officer, who oversees the work of the UN Secretariat and fulfills any other functions entrusted by the organisation’s principal organs.
Elections:
Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.
This means that the Permanent Members of the Security Council – China, France, Russia, the U.K., and the U.S. have a significant say in who gets elected.
Key Principal Organs of the UNO:
United Nations General Assembly (UNGA): The main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ, where all 193 member states have equal representation.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC): Responsible for maintaining international peace and security, with 15 members (5 permanent with veto power, 10 non-permanent).
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): Coordinates economic, social, and environmental work of the UN system, overseeing specialized agencies.
International Court of Justice (ICJ): The principal judicial organ, settling legal disputes submitted by states, located at The Hague.
Secretariat: Carries out the day-to-day work of the UN, administered by the Secretary-General.
Trusteeship Council: Established to supervise trust territories, it suspended operations in 1994 after Palau gained independence.
Headquarters: New York (UNGA, UNSC, ECOSOC, Secretariat, Trusteeship Council) and The Hague (ICJ).
Membership: 193 member states (all part of UNGA).
Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report
Syllabus: Miscellaneous
Context
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj released the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) 2.0 Report (FY 2023–24) on National Panchayati Raj Day (24 April 2026).
About
Objective – It is India’s first nationwide data-driven framework designed to act as a localized report card, evaluating and monitoring the performance of over 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats (GPs) and Traditional Local Bodies (TLBs).
